Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt has created a new culture of proud and enthusiastic owners.
When the Volt rolled off the assembly line at our Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility in 2010, there were many ways to measure success for the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle with gas-powered, extended-range capability. Certainly, being named "2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year," along with a host of other accolades, was significant. Further validation occurred when we raised our 2012 global production capacity to 60,000 units, including the Opel Ampera, to meet consumer demand. But when three simple words, "fun to drive," were far and above the dominant feedback from customers, we had our definitive measure of success.
Volt / Ampera Accolades
- 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year
- 2011 North American Car of the Year, Automobile magazine
- 10 Best Cars of 2011, Car and Driver ®
- 2011 Green Car of the Year, Green Car Journal
- 2011 Top Safety Pick, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- Green Car Next Generation Award
- Green Car Gold Award
These words underscore our belief that we deliver true change only when we marry consumer desire with effective technology. The most fuel-efficient technology in the world does nothing to help reduce our dependency on petroleum or to lower emissions if no one buys the product. And this is what the Volt has delivered: sustainability with style, performance, safety, connectivity and, perhaps most important, practicality.
The Volt's capability can best be described as "Electric when you want it, gas when you need it," The Volt can be driven any time, anywhere, using our Voltec propulsion system to deliver an EPA-estimated 35 miles of electric driving, depending on conditions, from a long-life, lithium-ion battery and 111 kW (149 hp) electric-drive unit. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas-powered engine generator seamlessly engages to extend the driving range up to 340 additional miles. Fully recharging the battery is as simple as plugging into a standard household 120V outlet for eight to 10 hours or a 240V outlet for about four hours.
To calculate the Volt's fuel efficiency, the EPA uses a Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe). By this EPA estimate, the Volt electric drive averages 93 mpg on electric drive and 35 city or 40 highway mpg on gas. Consider, too, that 75 percent of drivers in the U.S. commute fewer than 40 miles each day to and from work, which means most Volt drivers will not need to use gasoline for their daily commutes. And with four seats and a trunk, it is also many customers' primary vehicle.
The Volt's technology extends beyond the battery. The car promotes more efficient driving via instant communication that indicates when the vehicle is going too fast or braking too hard for optimum efficiency. OnStar® service is standard for three years. In addition, OnStar's RemoteLink mobile app enables drivers to view and manage vehicle functions and charging via their smartphone.
Where does the Volt technology go from here? Around the world. The Chevrolet Volt launched in Canada in September 2011, and will debut in 2012 in Europe as the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera, as well as the Chevrolet Volt. Also in 2012, the Chevrolet Volt will be introduced to the Chinese market. It will begin thrilling Australian drivers as the Holden Volt in 2012.
Chevrolet Volt
He's never owned a car from an American car company. Now, he's plugged in to one.